COMPETITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19075, 21 May 1930, Page 15

COMPETITIONS.

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS. The Competitions Society continued their Twentieth Annual Festival In the Civic Theatre last evening. There was a good attendance, and the items pleased the audience. The results are as follows: PIANO SOLO, 12 and under 14. First section, “Miniature Pastorales.” Thirty-three entries. Miss Joan Boniface (Spreydon), 91 points 1 Miss Kathleen Read (St Albans), 90 points 2 Miss Jean Wallace (Papanui), 89 points 3 The judge said that most of the competitors failed to make the melody stand out above the accompaniment. The technique was good among the finalists. The winner played well with a nice touch. She had a singing tone, but should not hurry. The second prize-winner also played well, and gave quite an interesting rendition. The third prize-winner had clean technique and interpreted the piece well. SECOND SECTION. Thirtv-three entries Miss Francis Dougall (Linwood), 91 points 1 Miss Patricia Townsend (Christchurch) and Miss B. Carnochan (Hillmorten), 90 points (equal) 2 The same general remarks applied in this section as in the first. The winner played with clean technique. Her light and shade effects were good. Miss Townsend should take care of her pedalling, also of her left-hand notes. She played well, and gave a neat rendition. Miss Carnochan could have made her demisemiquavers clearer. She played exCellentlj' and with good technique. JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIP, boys, 31 and under 16. (a) “A Nation’s Birth”; (b) Own selection. Thirteen entries. Master Harold Baigent (Ashburton), (b) “Old Grey Squirrel,” 171 lioint.s l Master James Humphreys (Addington), (b) “Ballad of Cape St Vincent), 170 points 2 Master Earnest Moller (Dunedin) (b) "The Rider at the Gate,” 169 points 3 As this is a scholarship event, only one prize is awarded. The work in this section pleased the judge very much, and lie said all the finalists gave excellent performances. The winner had chosen a good piece and he visualised every word, thus making his rendering splendid. His diction was clear and distinct. He did not need to shout, and the effect, was impressive. The enunciation of the other two performers was very good. OPERATIC OR DRAMATIC SOLO, own selection, open class. Ten entries. Miss Gladys Brooks (Rrookside), “Micaela’s Song,” 95 points .... 1 Miss Sylvia Angus (Avonside), “Far Greater in His Lowly State,” and Miss Nina Partridge (St Albans). “Valse Song,” 92 points (equal) . .i 2 The judge said the winner made good inflections and worked up to a passionate climax. She had a fine dramatic voice and power. She should pay more attention to diction. Miss Angus had a good-quality voice in the piano movements, but in the forte she sang a little shrilly. Her rendering was a good one. Miss Partridge had a good voice, and she used it well. Her vowel sounds improved at the finals. SHAKESPEAREAN RECITATION, “Antony.” Men. Nine entries. Mr R. R. Wills (Linwood), 83 points 1 Mr Lester Moller (Dunedin), 79 points 2 Mr Jack Watts (St Albans), 78 points 3 Very highly commended: Mr Ronald Foster (Woolston), Mr Harold Shaw (St Albans), Mr T. M. Cummins (St Albans). The finalists in this class improved a little at the evening performance. None of them succeeded in getting the correct setting of the scene. In the asides most competitors failed to convey any visualisation. The winner introduced good word and tone colouring into his work. He made effective pausations, and his voice was rich in quality. The second prize winner gave a good interpretation, and his work was well done. BARITONE SOLO. “The Two Grenadiers.” Open class. Fifteen entries. Mr Ernest Glading (Wellington), 95 points 1 Mr Percy Caithness (Linwood), 90 points 2 Mr J. K. Burtt (Christchurch) and Mr Hugh Findlay (Linwood), 88 points (equal) 3 Most of the competitors missed the climax in this section, and the recalled singers were the only ones who had succeeded in bringing out the climax at the line “My Emperor is taken.” The winner gave a very fine interpretation of the song. The runner-up had a voice of good quality. He also worked up to a fine climax. CHARACTER STORY DANCE, under 32. Six entries. Miss Jean O’Connor (Wellington), “The Enchanted Doll,” 71 points 1 Miss Eileen Connor (Linwood), “Little Miss Muffet," 69 points 2 Miss Merle Forward (Christchurch), “The Aspiring Maid,” GS points 3 Highly commended: Miss Kathleen PI ever (Timaru). The stories were “thin” in this class. The winner danced daintily and her expression was good. She maintained the correct rhythm throughout the dance. The runner-up sustained her character and gave a good presentation. OPERATIC OR DRAMATIC »SOLO, open class. Sixteen entries. Miss Anita Graham (Christchurch), “Voce Di Donna,” 89 points .... 1 Miss Myra Sutton (Lyttelton), “Hindoo Song,” 88 points 2 Miss Kathleen Bond (Papanui), "Ombra Mai Fu,” 85 points 3 The winner gave an interesting rendition, and worked up to a fine climax. She had a good-quality voice. The second prize winner gave a song of good merit, and she used a beautiful quality voice. Her tempo at the climax was slightly at fault. The third prize winner had a contralto voice and gave an interesting rendering. She let slip some notes back into her throat, thus producing a “woolly” tone. NAVY LEAGUE RECITATION. Boys under 16, “Big Steamers.” Ten entries. Recalls: Master Gordon Windsor (Sydenham), Master James Humphreys (Addington), and Master Clive M’Neill (Avonside). ENGLISH SONG, mezzo. Twelve entries. Recalls: Miss Mavis Greer (Riccarton), Miss Doris Irvine (Riccarton), and Mrs E. Birnie (Ashburton). RECITAL WITH ACCOMPANIMENT. Ladies or Men. Thirteen entries. Recalls’ Mr Lester Moller (Dunedin). Miss Lily Kinsella (Woolston) and Mr Denys Cow (Christchurch). SHAKESPEAREAN RECITATION tries GS ° r Men under 21 ' Thirteen enRecalls: Mr Lester Moller (Dunedin), Miss Molly Fowler (Christchurch) and Mr Ronald Foster (Woolston). The Woolston Band, No. 3 nartv nlav. ed as the fourth entry in the instrumental quartette. Their Tannhauser selection was well played. The instruments were four trombones. Only one of the two competitors appeared in the First Section of the Vocal Trio. They sang “Song of May Morning.” The first section of the Negro Spirituals for ladies was held, and will be finalised later. There were three entries. The first section of the Song in Character for ladies or men was held, only two out of the four entrants appearing. Both songs were well sung. The final results will be given later, when the class is concluded.